By Christine Fabro
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) warned the public about a malicious website which claims that PCG medical personnel will be conducting its COVID-19 RT-PCR testing for international travelers coming here with corresponding fees.
In an advisory on Monday (July 19), PCG Task Force Bayanihan Returning Overseas Filipinos (TF-BROF) Commander, Rear Admiral Rolando Punzalan Jr. said that this claim is false and tagged the website as not authorized by the PCG.
The website, https://www.philippinesvisa.com, which redirects to https://www.philippinese-cif.com/, said in its home page that the mandatory COVID-19 RT-PCR swab test for all arriving passengers in the Philippines will be conducted by “trained personnel from the PCG”.
“All concerned are enjoined to be vigilant and not fall into said unauthorized claim. Kindly please disseminate widely to protect our innocent kababayans and other international travelers,” he said.
Punzalan that the TF-BROF works with the Department of Transportation’s One-Stop-Shop for the Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos. – rir